Recommended for those who read Irish history, especially recent history, espionage fans, and for those who enjoy good narratives about real people caught in horrible situations, and those who try to fight for the truth, even when the world doesn't want to know it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four Shots in the Night was a very compelling and informative story about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. This book may not be for everyone and I think you do need to have a certain level of knowledge about The Troubles to really appreciate and understand this book. Personally, I really enjoyed this one. Some sections were a little slow for me, but overall it was a great read that I was able to enjoy!

Hemming introduces us to the history of the Irish Troubles through the stories of individuals on both sides of the conflict. With many variations of different political, military, and paramilitary groups, following certain people helps keep track of the ongoing history of the Troubles. The author allows us to get to know this time in history through those who continue to live it and those who have since passed, giving readers who are new to the subject a clear overview.

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-copy of FourShots in the Night by Henry Hemming in exchange for a honest review.This is a very well researched book that is both factual and riveting.It tells the story of Frank Hegarty who joined the IRA and also supplied info to his British handlers.When he is put in charge of a large ammo haul that is in a local cemetery, he passes this info onto British agents who seize them.When the IRA realize he has double crossed them his life is in jeopardy and he flees to England.This book tells about the history of the IRA from its inception to it’s breakaway into the Provos and finally to the Good Friday Peace agreement.It also uncovers how many senior level IRA soldiers were working for the British. This is an eye opening book to Irish Americans like me growing up believing the IRA was always justified in their killing and the British were always wrong.The truth lies somewhere in the middle.Highly recommend.

This book examines the role of intelligence in ending the Troubles in Northern Ireland. I would recommend that readers already be familiar with the Troubles, as this book seems to assume some level of prior knowledge. I felt as though the story of Stakeknife was overplayed a bit, and ultimately my takeaway from the book has little to do with his specific story. I also think the denouement of Stakenife’s identity was poorly executed. Overall, however, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in intelligence or history. It’s fast paced, easy to read, engaging and thought provoking.

I find myself wanting to give 4 stars, but for some reason I can’t. I’ve been trying to work out exactly why that may be, and I think a portion of it was that I was a little disappointed with this book at times. There were times I didn’t feel much like finishing, but closer to the end things picked up a bit and I was fascinated by the storyline and how things were wrapping up.
I feel I may have had an easier time reading this book had I had better background information of The Troubles. As I live in the US, this portion of history was not taught to me so I felt a little lost on the importance of this time period.
That being said, I really enjoy learning about parts of history I was not taught or have little understanding of. I often pick my upcoming reads based on this criteria. I would have enjoyed a little more background before jumping into this book.
The real-life spy is intriguing and I can better understand just how difficult a handler’s position can be, just how blurred lines can become and morality can become a bit of a gray area.

It dawned on me while reading this that I don't think I've ever met a book about the Troubles that I haven't liked. I dunno, is that a bit morbid, actually? There's just something about it, as an historical conflict, that has always slightly blown my mind: the sheer number of factions involved, the scale of the violence, how it seems to distort our sense of time (it happened so long ago, and yet also, so recently), the many ways in which it utterly defies conventions. There's something about it, as an historical conflict, that feels like it should be starting to feel overwritten by now, and yet writers and historians continue, unceasingly, to exhume new avenues of intrigue and interest.

FOUR SHOTS IN THE NIGHT by Henry Hemming explores one such avenue. On its most general level, it tells the story of the life and career of Frank Hegarty, a local Derry man who was executed by the IRA in 1986 for "informing" to the British; but while Hemming's narrative seems to seek to unravel the mystery of Hegarty's murder -- how he came to be a British agent, how his "betrayal" was discovered, and, of course, the identity of the person or persons responsible for his death -- it also, critically, examines the role of the intelligence services in the conflict, and ruminates on the crucial questions that such a conflict raises among non-civilian factions involved. To what extent could the actions of British undercover agents during the Troubles be reasonably protected by the law? Did looser protections equal more, or worse, acts of violence? Is it worth allowing mass casualty events to occur if doing so means the identity of undercover agents will be protected, and their services maintained? If it means preventing a worse event further down the road?

And also, with such powerful forces working behind the scenes, who really ought to bear the responsibility for the human cost of the conflict?

While reading, I found it impossible not to draw some comparisons with Patrick Radden Keefe's fantastic book SAY NOTHING, which also invokes one of the Troubles's most notorious and controversial crimes as a jumping off point from which a wider history of the period can be told. I loved PRK's book when it was released, because despite it being Irish history, the circumstances of its central disappearance, plus its concluding revelations, imbued it with a darker "true crime" vibe, which is what I was most captivated by while reading; by comparison, I would say that FOUR SHOTS IN THE NIGHT was more traditionally historical in tone, and its narrative structure meant that while Hegarty's murder was a central focus at all times (I will allow that the same cannot necessarily also be said of Jean McConville in PRK's book), its perpetrators were a bit of a foregone conclusion, meaning the mystery was not exactly a mystery.

I will say that despite PRK's book reading darker, Hemming was much more effective at conveying the occasional (for lack of a better word) hopelessness of ordinary people's lives during the period. I cannot begin to fathom the daily trauma of division as existed in Northern Ireland during this period, and what was made clear most effectively by Hemming's book was there was no shortage of shadowy forces and factions at hand, ready and willing to manipulate the numerous social, cultural, religious, and political arguments of the time as a means of turning neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend, ostensibly in service of a greater "cause". It blows my mind how many families of victims, including Hegarty's, have never found satisfactory justice for the violences perpetrated against their loved ones; and I wish I could say it equally blows my mind how many of the great and powerful men who worked exclusively behind the scenes during this time, planning the violence and deaths and disappearances, have remained prominent within the public consciousness even to this day, despite the wealth of public evidence and knowledge proving their misdeeds, but it doesn't.

No, that bit doesn't surprise me in the least.

When I think of the word quagmire, I often associate it with the Troubles of Northern Ireland. Growing up in an Irish Catholic family, it is something I never personally experienced but heard a lot about. As complicated a subject as it was during my youth, it has become even more complex in a post-9/11 world.

Four Shots in the Night by Henry Hemming tries to reckon with the Troubles and the crimes committed during that terrible time. Specifically, he frames the story around the execution of British agent. What makes this crime so singular is that the execution might have been done by another British agent.

Let's get this out of the way. If you are thinking of reading this book, you might have already read Patrick Radden Keefe's amazing book Say Nothing. There are similarities. Both are set around an unsolved crime, both use a non-linear timeline to tell their story, both extensively dig into IRA leadership, and both are excellent. Hemming's focus is more concentrated on the world of spies within the IRA and their British handlers.

One of the criticisms around Keefe's book is that the disappearance mentioned in the synopsis ultimately takes up very little space in the overall narrative. It is true, but the Troubles require an extensive accounting of the sides everyone is on and why. Hemming hews much closer to the murder throughout the book, but, like Keefe, he has to take extensive detours to help the reader understand the lay of the land. Hemming is more succinct, but I think both authors do a brilliant job just in different ways.

If you loved Say Nothing, you will love this. If you didn't read Say Nothing, you should still read this.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and PublicAffairs.)

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher PublicAffairs for this book about the Irish Troubles, the cost in lives, in trust, and how even after the guns are silenced, the truth of how those guns were used might never be known.

There are more rules in regular warfare than in troubles, civil unrest, or people finally rising against oppressors. Atrocities are committed on both sides, acts that beggar descriptions, and makes one wonder about what the world has come to. The worse is when atrocities have to be committed on neighbors, those who were friends, and now possibly traitors to the cause. People one grew up, shop owners, band mates, dart buddies. One might even have to break one's word to a mother who asks mercy, only to see her child dead in a field. These stains don't go away no matter how hard people say forget and forgive. These actions rear their ugly head, sometimes publicly, mostly privately, effecting lives long after the peace is signed. Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Spies, Murder, and Justice in Northern Ireland by Henry Hemming is a look at a murder, what makes a traitor to a cause, and what governments allow I their battles against those fighting for freedom, and what they continue to hide after peace is declared

A man in Derry is walking his greyhound one morning when he sees a fellow dogwalker on the path ahead of him. Frank Hegarty is Irish, social, and an expectant father, and a man who loves to talk. The other man is not a dog person, is English, and works for the British government, and knows quite a bit about Frank, his life, his family, and wants to make an offer to Frank. The government is aware that you are a social person, and would appreciate if you would share what you find our about IRA actions in your area with us. Frank was once a member of the IRA, but being a father-to-be has changed him. Frank wants his child to grow up in peace, safe from the Troubles. However informing is the worst thing a person could do, and punishment could mean exile, a bullet in the knee, or death. Frank's decision will have a powerful impact on the future, culminating in a field which will impact a powerful politician to be, a fellow agent in the IRA, and the way pawns are used in the spy game.

Time doesn't heal all wounds. Especially if no one wants to discuss why the wounds are there. During the Irish Troubles hundreds were killed for collaborating, many who were innocent, confused, or in some cases to cover up bigger crimes possibly. By not addressing actions taken in dark times, these continue to infect people. Families left behind, a mother lied to and a son growing up without a father. This is a fascinating book about a small crime that had big repercussions, and makes one wonder about the truth, and what might the real story be about a lot of things. Henry Hemming is a really good writer, able to talk about the times and the various players well, capturing the human factor in these people which can be so easily missed. This is ultimately a sad story, because one knows there won't be a happy ending, no closure, just a lot of this could be, and that might be. Which is the worst thing of all. Hemming names names, looks at a lot of evidence, and a lot of interviews to tell his story. There is a lot of jumping around in time, but it makes sense why, and Hemming never loses the narrative or the plot. A very interesting book about a horrible time.

Recommended for those who read Irish history, especially recent history, espionage fans, and for those who enjoy good narratives about real people caught in horrible situations, and those who try to fight for the truth, even when the world doesn't want to know it.

This is a compulsively readable book that asks complex questions about the role of spies in conflict, and how we reckon with what is asked/required of those in spy services. It also asks questions about how we view those who "double cross" or inform; in Ireland, clearly, there is a long history of violence towards informants. From an American perspective, this book felt pro-British, anti-IRA. (The author addresses his background pretty clearly at the beginning, so it isn't a surprise. Just something to note!) It's worth noting that the essential question--should Northern Ireland be part of the UK or reunited with the Republic of Ireland--is outside the scope of this book. Readers own opinions on this topic may color their reading of this book, but it remains a well researched, fast paced, and well crafted tale of spies, politics, and the difficult and complicated choices made in a place and time of great upheaval and consequence. Anyone interested in the Troubles will find this a great read. Perfect for fans of "Say Nothing."